Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef ruled that according to Jewish law, it is forbidden to vote for Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, due to his ascent to the Temple Mount, despite the fact that "all the great rabbis of all generations, without exception, forbade it in the strongest terms due to the concern of karet (spiritual excision)." In a letter published by the rabbi, he wrote: "Public figures have arisen who define themselves as nationalists and sanctify the ascent to the Temple Mount, and lead the masses to transgress the prohibition of karet. Anyone who supports the party of one who ascends the Temple Mount and encourages the ascent is as if he himself is in violation of karet, therefore it is forbidden according to Jewish law to support the party."